Wrap-around garment



Jan. 15 1935. M, HRANK 1,988,053

WRAP-AROUND GARMENT Filed April 5, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 15, 1935.M, c SCHRANK 1,988,053

WRAP AROUND GARMENT Filed April 5, 1955 2 SheetsSheet 2 Patented Jan.15, 1 935 UNITED STATES WRAP-AROUND GARMENT Max Charles Schrank,Brldgeton, N. J.

Application April 5, 1933, Serial No. 664,607

1 Claim.

manner similar to coats. Such garments arev designed particularly to beused over a dress to servethe purpose of a smock orapron. It used inlieu of a dress, garments of this, type present several objections,chief among which is that they do not aflord the wearer sufflcientprotection because of the fact that in stepping, walking or running theaction of the lower legs tends to kick open the overlapped frontportions, however great the overlapping may be. A further objection isthat front overlapped garments present decided limitations as tostyling, because of the fact that they must necessarily be styled ascoats or wrappers, and are thus restricted to the limited amount ofstyling that may be done on a front opening dress.

The present invention aims to provide a slipon wrap-around garment to beused instead of a dress, possessing all of the advantages of the frontopening garment heretofore proposed, with an added advantage ofovercoming objections incident to front overlap structures, andproviding a garment wherein the field oi styling is practicallyunlimited.

The invention consists generally in the provision of a slip-on oi thewrap-around effect to be worn as a frock in lieu of a dress, wherein theoverlap occurs at some point other than the front, in order that theIront may be adaptable to desired styling, and wherein the actionincident to walking or stretching the limbs tends to close the overlaprather than to cause the same to open. It is preferred that this overlapoccur at the rear or back of the garment where the natural tendency ofthe overlapped portion will be to follow and close upon the legs of thewearer when in the act of walking or stretching the legs. Though notrestricted to such use, a garment possessing these characteristics is ofparticular value and advantage in domestic or sport activities, wherelightness oi! garments, free body movement and "proper coverage are atall times essential.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear asthe description proceeds, the invention consists in the novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of 65 parts, all as will bedescribed more fully here- Russuu) inafter, illustrated in the drawingsand particularly pointed out in the claim.'

In the drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved garment as viewed from the inside,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a series of gores which when assembled andstitched together constitute another form of the invention} Fig. 3 isthe rear view of a figure showing the manner of applying the garment,

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing a further step in applying the garment,

Fig. 5 is a. front elevation of the garment as it will appear whenproperly applied to the' figure,

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the garment as shown in Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a view of the garment as it will appear when applied to a formand disclosing the freedom of leg movement without exposing the coveredform.

In carrying out the invention, I provide a garment including combinedwaist and skirt portions which may be made of one piece or of separatepieces stitched together. The upper portion of the waist is providedwith armholes or suitable openings or cut away portions to receive thearms so that the garment may be put on from the front and the sidesbrought around in formenclosing manner and into overlapping position atthe rear of the wearer. Suitable tapes may be secured to the edges ofthe garment at the waist line in order that the garment maybe properlyadjusted and the overlapped edges held in proper place. A garment soconstructed lends itself admirably and in an unlimited manner tovariations in styling, while at the same time it obviates exposure ofthe limbs when walking or in other forward tending movements. It will beunderstood that the armholes may be fitted with sleeves ii. desired, orthe upper portion of the waist part may be cut away to produce sun-taneffect beneath the arms and in the back. More specifically, the garmentcomprises a front 5 and side or rear portions 7-8, all of which are ofsumcient length to provide waist and skirt portions and which whenproperly assembled are of sufilcient breadth to entirely encircle thebody and to provide a substantial overlap at the rear of the body.

The upper part of the waist portion is provided with armholes 9, whichmay or may not be fitted with sleeves as desired. The front and rearportions of the garment may be all included in one piece or may consistof gores properly cut and stitched together along adjacent edges. Apreferred manner of securing the garment in proper form fitting relationupon the body resides in tapes 10, one secured to a lateral edge of eachrear portion at substantially the waist line thereof, and these tapespass from rear to front around the waist and may be tied together at thefront or at the side of the body. To facilitate overlapping of thetapes, an opening 11 is provided in one of the side portions of thestructure at the waist line thereof, and through which one of the tapesmay be passed. It will be understood that the tapes need not be tied toeach other but may be secured each to some other part of the garment atthe sides, depending upon' the efiect desired. Moreover, it will beunderstood that fastening means other than'those described may beemployed if desired.

In order to produce the effects and the results desired the garmentincreases in width from the upper part or waistline thereof to the loweredge of the skirt portion. This is in order that a proper fullness inthe skirt be provided to create a substantial overlap at the rear,sufficient to at all times and under all contemplated conditions secureprivacy. In instances where it is desired, kick pleats may be providedin the lower portion of the skirt in order to increase fullness. 1

In one development of the invention, I find it very practical toconstruct the slip-on garment of a plurality of gores, one of which 12includes the front and is of substantially the breadth of the normalhuman body, having a cut -away neck portion at 13 and reduced in breadthat the waist portion to produce a form fitting effect. The rear gores14-15 are relatively wide, and have their inner edges shaped or curvedinwardly adjacent the waist, while a pair of intermediate gores 16 and17 are interposed between the front and each of the said rear gores. Theadjacent edges of all of these gores are so shaped as when stitchedtogether to provide a styled form fitting garment, while the lowerportions of such gores are of such width as to provide sufficientfullness in the skirt portion to permit of a substantial overlap whenthe garment is applied to the figure. The upper portions of theintermediate gores 16--17 are cut .button 21 carried by the oppositerear panel 14.

The outer edge of the gore 15 slants inwardly toward the waistline as at21 in order to produce a form fitting effect. The gores 1d-- 15 areprovided with ties or tapes 22 in order that the garment may be heldtogether at the waistline, and one of the intermediate panels 17 isprovided with a loop or opening 23 through which one of the tapes may bepassed to produce a meeting of the tapes at the front of the garment.With a garment constructed in accordance with the-foregoing, it is atonce apparent that the same may be used as a slip-over or in lieu of adress. The garment is donned by extending the arms forwardly through thearmholes, overlapping the rear gores and tying the tapes together at thefront or at the side. The construction is such that the operations ofdonning or removing are extremely simple and may be quickly and easilycarried out with no strains or stresses exerted upon any part of thegarment. By reason of its particular construction it adapts itself tothe configuration of the human body and is form fitting, while at thesame time it presents unlimited opportunity for styling at the frontwhere it has heretofore been considerably restricted in this regard. Byreason of the fact that the overlap occurs at the back, no opportunityis afiorded for the garment coming open when walking or stretching thelegs.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:- A wrap-around garmentcomprising a one piece structure combining waist and skirt portions,said structure including panels adapted to overlap at therear of thewearer and each having an armhole near its upper end, the edge of theunderlying panel diverging from the upperpart of its armhole portion tothe waistline of the garment at the opposite side of the wearer, theoverlapping panel having a neck portion extending over and detachablysecured to the upper part of the armhole portion of the opposite panel,and ties secured to the waistline portions of said panels to encirclethe waist and maintain the panels in overlapped relation.

MAX CHARLES SC.

